Oxford University PowerHouseGames 2024
On Friday 26th April Oxford University held its very first PowerHouseGames! We are thrilled to have taken our inclusive sports to the famous Iffley Road Sports Complex, home of the first sub-4 minute mile.
A major thanks to Oxford SDG Impact Lab for supporting this project. Their mission and vision is, “to enable students to collaborate with partners to deliver the UN Sustainable Development Goals”, which include Quality Education, Gender Equality, Reduced Inequalities, and Partnerships to achieve these goals – all at the core of what we believe at Power2Inspire!
One of their programmes is the Oxford Sports Leadership Lab, which uses “sport as a platform to inspire, educate and further a greater sense of belonging locally and globally”. A partnership made to be!
Thanks to Ollie Cook, rowing champion, PowerHouseGames attendee, and fellow paddler on the 108 Challenge, who as a Programme Manager, brought it all together. Mishern Chetty, a Power2Inspire trustee and Said Business School alumnus, oiled the wheels of the partnership. Thanks to Edward, Alex (Impact Lab) and David (from Vincents) for making it happen and being so encouraging to our dreams of repeating the fun.
Why all the fuss?
Alex Laybourne (Power2Inspire CEO) stated it simply:
“The best first PowerHouseGames yet!”
With 26 students from Greyfriars School, a Catholic state school closest to the university, and 12 from John Watson School, a community special school, and 20 students from the Impact Lab and Vincents, twelve colourful teams competed through the morning in inclusive sports such as boccia, sitting volleyball and new age kurling.
Ollie Cook commented:
“There can’t be many occasions when you have former NFL players, Olympians, Paralympians and Blues athletes all coming together to try something new. And I certainly haven’t had as much fun being shown up on my lack of hand-eye coordination for ages!”
The teachers from John Watson were delighted. They remarked how relaxed they were – normally they have to keep very close eye/control on their charges, but so welcoming were the students and accommodating of the Greyfriars pupils that the teachers could watch and enjoy. Inclusion as it should be.
A number of the students observed the difference in the Greyfriars pupils with whom they had worked in the Michaelmas term – more confident, happier and very willing to include their fellows from John Watson. One lad, rather known for his self-absorption, was urging his teammates to pass to his John Watson teammate – “he’s open, he’s open!” even if he wasn’t – so keen was he to include him.
Thanks to Rosie Popa, Aussie Olympic gold medal winner, and Laurence Whiteley, British Paralympic gold medal winner, for presenting the medals – superstars everywhere I looked!
My final thanks go to Edith Cameron for the wonderful photos. Edith is so generous with her time and help – helping out massively at the start of last year’s 108 Challenge and volunteering here, I want to point you to her business, the Cotswold Canoe Hire Company. You will love going out on the River Thames from Lechlade – it is truly beautiful.
Mishern and Ollie finished the day plotting! We are all keen to repeat and grow the day. And with the support of the Impact Lab and of Vincents, I believe there is a real opportunity to study the impact for good on students of all ages and abilities these PowerHouseGames provide. The more PowerHouseGames we can put on, the more research material there is for Oxford to study!
Here’s to more Oxford PowerHouseGames.
What are PowerHouseGames?
PowerHouseGames are incredible sports days using adapted games and sports, with activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants are encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, to learn to respect other people’s differences, and Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
Special thanks again to Edith Cameron of Edith Cameron Photography for her fantastic photography on the day. All photos used with permission
CUAC PowerHouseGames 2024
On Friday 19th April Cambridge University’s Athletics Club held its inaugural PowerHouseGames at the University Sports Centre.
One of Power2Inspire’s mantras is to be flexible and to adapt, which turned out to be pretty useful when only six students turned up from an anticipated 24! All had ample excuses – it was before the start of term, the need to do revision (or should that be ‘vision’) before exams, and the allure of returning to Cambridge early for pre-season, warm-weather training was clearly dashed by our wonderful cold, wet April weather.
Regardless, we were relieved to be indoors and ready for a great morning.
So how did we cope? We adapted. The usual 12 twelve teams of 5 became 6 teams of 7, each led by a student, gloriously decked out in pink. The six teams played three games before the snack break – goalball, sitting netball and ‘throwing’ – and three after the break, sitting volleyball, new age kurling and boccia.
Each team comprised two students from each of Impington Village College, Ivel Valley Special School and Castle Special School. This meant we had four disabled students for the first time in each team, which led to different learning as they had to socialise in a different manner.
Although I thought it was quieter than usual, the feedback was very positive, Wendy Chandler of Ivel Valley commenting that the peace this created suited some of her pupils better.
Paul Sanwell, our superb volunteer photographer – do enjoy the photos from him here! – noted that one lad he had witnessed last time being reticent, threw himself into all the activities this time. Another greeted me at the close as a friend, thanking me for making the event possible.
David Ellis, stalwart volunteer, oiled the wheels and kept the momentum and enthusiasm. He was particularly encouraging for the sitting netball which was enthusiastically competitive.
It was Andrew Langford of Castle’s first visit – he brought a group of sixth formers. He loved the event and the opportunity it creates for his students to get involved in activities that they are normally excluded from.
Reflecting on a slight reduction of space (part of the hall was closed off for maintenance – thanks to Ellis Maloney less than the builders said they needed!) and to honour the Athletics Club, we tried ‘throwing’. Madness, you cry, as we were indoors. But foam javelins, plastic skittles masquerading as clubs for the Paralympics Club Throw (thrown backwards from a seat) and a bean bag target game, were all really successful. By my reckoning the record throws for the foam javelin and club were set for the Centre at these games!
The University students were most enthusiastic afterwards but advised an earlier date in the academic year to avoid the dropouts! There is certainly the appetite for a repeat so watch this space. A big thank you to Ikechi Mere, a blue also in rugby, whose joy at participating in a Rugby Club PowerHouseGames, prompted this one.
As I said to the select group of students who did come, in years to come they will be able to say they were at the first ever CU Athletics Club PowerHouseGames!
What are PowerHouseGames?
PowerHouseGames are incredible sports days using adapted games and sports, with activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants are encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, to learn to respect other people’s differences, and Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
Special thanks again to Paul Sanwell of OP Photography for his fantastic photography on the day. All photos used with permission
Middlesex CCC PowerHouseGames 2024
After our first ever county cricket PowerHouseGames in 2023, Power2Inspire was back at the iconic Indoor Cricket School at Lord’s! The Middlesex County Cricket Club held its second annual PowerHouseGames on 22nd March and it was a real celebration of sportsmanship, inclusivity, and the sheer joy that comes from watching different communities come together to play and enjoy sports.
At the majestic Home of Cricket, we hosted teams of five, made up of students from a mainstream state school and an SEN school mingled with professional players from Middlesex Cricket (both men’s and women’s teams) and the County’s hard-working staff These formed 10 splendidly mixed and uniquely outfitted teams as they donned their T-shirts in a rainbow of distinctive colours.
Kari Carswell and Stefan McKenzie from Middlesex Cricket orchestrated an event reflecting the spirit of diversity through sport. CEO Andrew Cornish welcomed everyone and urged all to live up to Power2Inspire’s Number One Rule – to have fun! The energy and excitement in the room confirmed this confidence.
Inclusive games including, of course, kwik cricket, were played with gusto and no little competition.
Sami Dar, one of our wonderful volunteers and a wheelchair user and co-founder at 10,000 Able Interns, expressed his sadness that such events weren’t available for him in his youth but delight that they were now happening. Bukola Alabi, an intern from Roehampton University, volunteering for the day described the event as “full of fun!” Giorgio, another intern from Roehampton threw himself into games he had never played before with enormous enthusiasm, only matched by Sarah Johnson from BOOST. That charity’s support, both financial and emotional has been enormous over the last three years and we acknowledge it publicly here with great gratitude.
Richard Hill, former Power2Inspire trustee before Disability Cricket nabbed all of his time, came along to volunteer and was at the heart of all the laughter. I did manage to get him to call me a rude name (in jest) as I late cut (well it might have been an edge) past his wheelchair, allowing me to waddle for a run. Smiles and giggles all round.
Other volunteers who made an amazing contribution were Jeremy Macklin, our very own Chair, and his wonderful wife Deborah, both of whom exemplified the spirit of the day, literally throwing themselves around in sitting volleyball; Darren Luntz of Hero App and his friend Alex; and Lois Gosling, who was hooked in Cambridge and cannot now escape.
Please check out the superb photos from Paul Sanwell and Michael Crawford-Hick. It was Michael’s first shoot with us, and I have to admire his bravery – wherever he hid from whichever ball, it made no difference, it still found him!
My abiding memory will be of Angus Fraser, England cricket legend, supervising a giant game of sitting netball which brought the games to a close. Wearing his yellow t-shirt as a necklace, he lobbed first a second soft ball into the chaos, then a third and finally a fourth. Organised pandemonium complete with laughter, smiles and joy.
I was thrilled when Andrew brought the closing ceremony to a close, inviting us back next year and challenging the indefatigable Kari to take a PowerHouseGames to Scotland where she will be taking up a new role. We are up for it!
What are PowerHouseGames?
PowerHouseGames are incredible sports days using adapted games and sports, with activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants are encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, to learn to respect other people’s differences, and Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
Special thanks again to Paul Sanwell of OP Photography and Michael Crawford-Hick for their fantastic photography on the day. All photos used with permission
A Two Day Games in Maidenhead
This was a trip down memory lane.
First a recent one: Gavin Tisshaw is the chair of Accessible Boating Thames, and they hosted us at Bisham Abbey – to be accurate, they stored the kayak – when I undertook the 108 Challenge last summer. His wife, Becky, is a teacher at Furze Platt Junior School and on hearing about the charity, invited me to deliver a Games2Inspire!
Gavin Tisshaw (R) helping with the 108 Challenge
The second is a much older memory. Ian Butler and I were at school together, Kingswood School, Bath, back in the 1970s. Please do not work out the years – it makes me feel far too old! He and his lovely wife, Carol, hosted me (yes, me!) for the two nights I was running the Furze Platt Games2Inspire event and it was really special. Thank you both. We had also caught up as part of the 108 Challenge, Ian being a strong paddler, so it was a treat to visit properly.
On to the Games...
Furze Platt has a three-form entry, so we split the activities over two days, including an assembly on each day. There were six classes of around 30 for each session on both days, so approximately 360 experienced the fun of goalball, sitting volleyball and sitting netball. The pupils loved it.
Becky, the school’s PE coordinator, said:
“The staff who attended the hall games and assembly were really inspired by your talk and said the children absolutely loved the games and benefitted from their experiences with you.
Giving you a high paw was unusual for the children as they have never done this before, and some children said they were a bit scared because they didn’t know what to expect or how to do it right. This was fantastic as I hoped that we might break down some barriers.
We have had many inspirational speakers in our school, but I honestly think you have had the greatest impact so far.”
I also grabbed the opportunity to catch up with Steve Illman, who connected us to ABT, but didn’t meet on my paddling trip. It was a delight to meet him in person and witness his enthusiasm for ABT, a charity to look up if you wish to go boating in almost any format on the Thames. They are both connected to Rotary too and will, I hope, be arranging some volunteers for our next visit in June.
I really enjoyed my time in Maidenhead and look forward to returning both to the school at some point, and to Bisham Abbey for our VISA PowerHouseGames in June.
What are Games2Inspire?
Games2Inspire events are incredible events, most often hosted in schools, with an assembly and sports day which includes activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants get to meet our inspirational founder, John Willis, and hear all about how John has overcome obstacles in his life. They then get to put that learning to practice by playing adapted games and sports together learning new skills and being encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, learning to respect other people’s differences. Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
If you are interested in hosting a Games2Inspire in your school / college / company / community group then we would love to hear from you.
We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.
My first PowerHouseGames with Dean Close School
I had been away when we held the first PowerHouseGames at Dean Close School in Cheltenham a year ago, so it was a particular pleasure for me to attend and see how the school had adapted the format. Our wonderful trustee and teacher at the school, Rebecca Condie, had pioneered the first version and it was so successful Katie Holder seamlessly took over while Becs was on maternity leave.
Again, it was a huge success. Y12s from Dean Close led the 12 teams, comprising other sports leaders and Y7s as well as two students from Belmont School, with special needs. The fun, enthusiasm and endeavour were everywhere. I just had one problem. It was so well organised by Ms Holder, and so ably staffed and led by the Y12s, that my two wonderful volunteers, Tom Roper and Darren Lunz had little to do! Fortunately, Archie Eaton, our ambassador and the No. 1 ranked boccia player in the UK, was gainfully employed, supervising the boccia with sympathy – some participants find the rules a tad hard to follow!
So, Tom took lots of photos and Darren and I were able to discuss his app – Hero – which will connect volunteers with charitable events. Power2Inspire is the first charity to sign up and we were trialling the software through Tom’s registration at this event. Watch out for more.
A big thank you to two Dean Close parents whose sponsorship allowed the PowerHouseGames to proceed with all the colourful t-shirts, so important in creating a bond between the teammates and in breaking down barriers.
With the sun shining (one of the rare days this year!) we were able to take the walking football (some of the students cannot resist running) outside, leaving touch rugby, goalball, boccia, new age kurling and sitting netball inside the beautiful sports hall.
Thank you Dean Close – it was a treat to return eight years after my 50:50:100 swim challenge and a talk to the Prep School 6 years ago. I look forward to returning next year.
What are PowerHouseGames?
PowerHouseGames are incredible sports days using adapted games and sports, with activities designed to be accessible and fun for everyone, old and young, with disabilities and none, sporty and not. Participants are encouraged to test their beliefs about ability and disability and what it is to be different, to learn to respect other people’s differences, and Power2Inspire works with them to challenge their assumptions of what they can and cannot do.
Inspired? Then Get Involved!
Would your university sports team, or school love to be involved in a PowerHouseGames? Could your company support our mission by volunteering at one of our PowerHouseGames? If so, then we would love to hear from you. We are also always looking out for people willing to fundraise for Power2Inspire through their own inspiring means. Or, you could volunteer individually at one of our events, or you could give to the ongoing work of Power2Inspire. There are SO MANY WAYS we can all help to ensure “no on else is left on the bench!” Click the button here to find out more.